Dezeen is celebrating the Mexican and American holiday Cinco de Mayo today by highlighting some of the top hotels in Mexico, just in time for the summer vacation season. They include Pablo Escobar's converted residence in Tulum and an all-white resort in Baja.
Dezeen is celebrating the Mexican and American holiday Cinco de Mayo today by highlighting some of the top hotels in Mexico, just in time for the summer vacation season. They include Pablo Escobar's converted residence in Tulum and an all-white resort in Baja.

Hotel Mar Adentro by Taller Aragonés
First on the list is a large hotel project by Mexican firm Taller Aragonés, notable for its shallow pools of water that seamlessly meet various walkways and white volumes.
Situated on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, these infinity pools visually link with the Pacific Ocean beyond. "I wanted to take that horizon and bring it into the foreground," said founder Miguel Angel AragoneÌs.

Tulum Treehouse by CO-LAB Design Office
CO-LAB Design Office created this private retreat in Tulum, constructed from concrete and surrounded by dense tropical foliage.
Outdoor spaces integrated into the project include a rooftop terrace, and a lounge with hammocks and an outdoor shower, while interiors boast local craft items like handmade baskets, ceramics, rugs and textiles.

Hotel Carlota by JSA
Lattices of dark blockwork wrap around a verdant courtyard and narrow swimming pool at this hotel in Mexico City, overhauled by local firm JSa.
Located in the capital's Cuauhtemoc neighbourhood and first opened in the 1970s, the renovated building features an aqua-coloured dining room, exposed brick interior walls, and a fully mirrored street facade.

Papaya Playa Project by Emilio Heredia
Rounded shacks on the beach and a Gaudi-inspired treehouse can be found at this expansive eco resort in Tulum, along the Riviera Maya.
To keep the beach units cool, founder Emilio Heredia and his team used a local "chukum" technique with tree resin to coat the walls, which was similarly used on a holiday house on the Yucatan peninsula that can be rented through Airbnb.

Hotel San Cristóbal Baja by Lake Flato
Texas-based Lake Flato constructed this boutique accommodation with pale exteriors to blend in with Baja's arid surroundings.
"Inspired by the town's historic designation as a 'pueblo mágico' village, a place considered to offer a magical experience, the hotel's vibe is minimal and beachy, reminiscent of a laid-back Baja in the 1970s," said the design team.

Drift San Jose by Stu Waddell and Pablo Torrestrueba
Drift San Jose comprises a series of concrete-designed rooms to form this intimate hotel in San José del Cabo. Founded on heritage tourism, the hotel offers guests local mezcal and a shop filled with products by Mexican designers.
The 600-square-metre property includes a handful of guest rooms, a splash pool with a lush courtyard, and an outdoor dining area.

Casa Malca by Lio Malca
Finally, this luxury hotel in Tulum was created at a private residence formerly owned by infamous drug baron Pablo Escobar.
A prominent art dealer turned the local estate into an art-filled hotel, complete with 42 rooms that meet a sandy yet shaded beachfront.

Hotel Mar Adentro by Taller Aragonés
First on the list is a large hotel project by Mexican firm Taller Aragonés, notable for its shallow pools of water that seamlessly meet various walkways and white volumes.
Situated on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, these infinity pools visually link with the Pacific Ocean beyond. "I wanted to take that horizon and bring it into the foreground," said founder Miguel Angel AragoneÌs.

Tulum Treehouse by CO-LAB Design Office
CO-LAB Design Office created this private retreat in Tulum, constructed from concrete and surrounded by dense tropical foliage.
Outdoor spaces integrated into the project include a rooftop terrace, and a lounge with hammocks and an outdoor shower, while interiors boast local craft items like handmade baskets, ceramics, rugs and textiles.

Hotel Carlota by JSA
Lattices of dark blockwork wrap around a verdant courtyard and narrow swimming pool at this hotel in Mexico City, overhauled by local firm JSa.
Located in the capital's Cuauhtemoc neighbourhood and first opened in the 1970s, the renovated building features an aqua-coloured dining room, exposed brick interior walls, and a fully mirrored street facade.

Papaya Playa Project by Emilio Heredia
Rounded shacks on the beach and a Gaudi-inspired treehouse can be found at this expansive eco resort in Tulum, along the Riviera Maya.
To keep the beach units cool, founder Emilio Heredia and his team used a local "chukum" technique with tree resin to coat the walls, which was similarly used on a holiday house on the Yucatan peninsula that can be rented through Airbnb.

Hotel San Cristóbal Baja by Lake Flato
Texas-based Lake Flato constructed this boutique accommodation with pale exteriors to blend in with Baja's arid surroundings.
"Inspired by the town's historic designation as a 'pueblo mágico' village, a place considered to offer a magical experience, the hotel's vibe is minimal and beachy, reminiscent of a laid-back Baja in the 1970s," said the design team.

Drift San Jose by Stu Waddell and Pablo Torrestrueba
Drift San Jose comprises a series of concrete-designed rooms to form this intimate hotel in San José del Cabo. Founded on heritage tourism, the hotel offers guests local mezcal and a shop filled with products by Mexican designers.
The 600-square-metre property includes a handful of guest rooms, a splash pool with a lush courtyard, and an outdoor dining area.

Casa Malca by Lio Malca
Finally, this luxury hotel in Tulum was created at a private residence formerly owned by infamous drug baron Pablo Escobar.
A prominent art dealer turned the local estate into an art-filled hotel, complete with 42 rooms that meet a sandy yet shaded beachfront.